SQL: How to display rhombus shape based on given length of characters? - sql

Question

My requirement is to build a rhombus using ‘X’ symbol based on below conditions.
If the length is 2, then it should display
X
XXX
X
If the length is 3, then it should display
X
XXX
XXXXX
XXX
X
If the length is 5, then it should display 5 lines above and 5 lines below with spaces.
I tried writing code, but I’m unable to get lower half part and spaces. Can someone help me here?
declare #X nvarchar(1) = 'X'
declare #chars int = 5
declare #W nvarchar(100) = 1
while (#chars > 0)
begin
print replicate(#X,#W)
set #chars = #chars - 1
set #W = #W + 2
end
Output:
X
XXX
XXXXX
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX

Answer 1

You can get spaces using SPACE function. I have used your approach and added some code which returns lower part as well.
DECLARE #X NVARCHAR(1) = 'X'
DECLARE #chars INT = 5
DECLARE #LowerPart INT = #chars
DECLARE #W NVARCHAR(100) = 1
WHILE (#chars > 0)
BEGIN
PRINT SPACE(#chars)+REPLICATE(#X,#W)
SET #chars = #chars - 1
SET #W = #W + 2
END
WHILE (#chars <= #LowerPart)
BEGIN
PRINT SPACE(#chars)+REPLICATE(#X,#W)
SET #chars = #chars + 1
SET #W = #W - 2
END

Answer 2

I've considered your example rhombus for 3. So, for a given length 5, there will be only 4 lines above and 4 lines below with my solution.
declare #displayCharacter nvarchar(1) = 'X'
declare #rhombusLength int = 5
declare #repetition int = 1
declare #topRow int = 1
declare #bottomRow int = 1
--Top rows
while (#rhombusLength > #topRow)
begin
print REPLICATE(' ', #rhombusLength - #topRow) + REPLICATE(#displayCharacter, #repetition)
set #topRow = #topRow + 1
set #repetition = #repetition + 2
end
--Middle row
print REPLICATE(#displayCharacter, #repetition)
--Bottom rows
while (#rhombusLength > #bottomRow)
begin
set #repetition = #repetition - 2
print REPLICATE(' ', #bottomRow) + REPLICATE(#displayCharacter, #repetition)
set #bottomRow = #bottomRow + 1
end